Litvyak Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 The second entry for this GB from me is another 442 "City of Vancouver" subject, this one a Vampire Mk. III, using the 1/72 Amodel kit and Arrow Graphics decals. I've decided to try something new: Since I always seem to get distracted after the main construction/decalling is (mostly) done (because my least favourite part of any build is the landing gear) and procrastinate on finishing it by starting something else, I figured I'd try starting several builds at once, working on them such that each one is at the same stage before progressing onto the next stage... we'll see how this works out for me! This will be my first experience with an Amodel kit so I don't really know what to expect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Procopius Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Always wondered how these kits build. Looking forward to seeing your work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Just pulled it all open to get started on the cockpit stuff (painting, for now)... first impression? There's a bunch of flash - including some really thick stuff on the seat-tub - and the plastic feels kinda weird, not sure how else to describe it. Also it's kinda 'simple', but I wouldn't exactly say 'crude', at least not in the way that some other old kits I've seen (e.g. Novo's Supermarine Attacker...). That said I'm not yet sure if I overpaid for this kit, but then, if you want a 1/72 Vampire Mk. III, what other option have you got? Having seen a (442 Sqn!) Vampire in person I was aware that this would be a small model, but looking at the parts up close it sinks in just how tiny it'll really be! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 This kit and "fit" are mutually exclusive concepts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Procopius Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 That sounds like the AModel Yak-28 I have, as well. The fuselage halves curve in opposite directions! How bad are the booms? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 An update showing yesterday's progress: Got the pod together yesterday, and I didn't take pictures but after a while of drying I got some putty onto the seams, too. Got the two booms assembled as well - I'll only find out when I get them onto the wings and get the tailwing in place too if they're out, but they don't look to be too bad at all; didn't really have to do any bending at all to get the booms assembled. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Looks like the fit rivals the Merlin Vampire T.22 I've got in the stash ;-) Coming along nicely nonetheless. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spectre711 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Looks like some of the old Pioneer kits I've built. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnopfor Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 They don't call them "A-Monster" kits for fun..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 @Johnopfor: You're not joking. And to think there are still a few Vampire builds I want to do... I have one in the stash but haven't looked at it yet - how are the RoG Vampire FB.5 kits? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 Minor update: the booms are assembled and have some putty on the seams, and got one of the wings together - the wing assembled rather easily, just a little bit of filing to do. Also, got some seam work done on the pod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 I have one in the stash but haven't looked at it yet - how are the RoG Vampire FB.5 kits? The RoG FB.5 is the Heller/Airfix kit. Decent shape, early 80's fit & detail. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 A couple photos of the current situation: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spectre711 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Looks like it will be looking pretty good once you get a base coat on there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 Thanks! I expect this'll need a fair bit of weight in the nose... hopefully I can fit enough in there to make it not sit on the tail, unlike the Hobbycraft 1/72 Canadair Tutor I built... Speaking of base coats: I'm wondering if I should do a coat of black first before the aluminum colour; for the Mustang I just went straight with the metal. I *think* I did a black undercoat on the CF-104 I did a couple years back, but I can't remember. Is the black undercoat worth the effort/paint? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Procopius Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 That looks pretty solid so far. I'd do the black undercoat, myself. In my experience it can really make a metallic color pop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spectre711 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 How are you making out on this one? The base color makes it what you want. Below are two Migs painted with the same MM metelizer aluminum Black base coat. Aircraft gray base coat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks for those photos, Spectre - the difference is marked and immediately noticeable! The Vampire - along with my other builds - is on temporary hold as we restructure the house, such that one room will become my own workspace with my modelling and recording gear. That should be all set up within the next couple of weeks, and I'll be able to get back to working on this and my other projects! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barneydhc82 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 The CA Vampire was a bit of a beast to build but with a little effort and Crown Royal...well not a show stopper but not bad. Barney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted May 27, 2013 Author Share Posted May 27, 2013 Well, time to update this thread finally! A bunch of stuff has happened... First off, I put a coat of gloss black on the mostly-assembled airframe... As you can see, I jumped the gun a little, and had to add more parts after putting the paint on, and repainting the cockpit as best I could from inside... but that done, I put the other parts on, added another coat of black, and then sprayed some silver... So far, so good. I then painted the gear wells and the nose, then started applying the decals. As I mentioned, I'm using Arrow Graphics decals... I've had some hit and miss experiences with them, so I was a bit worried... and sure enough, the 'BU' on the upper wing split into several pieces, but I did manage to rescue it, and the rest of them have been working out sufficiently well, with a more gentle touch... except for those thin red "don't step here area" outlines - those just destroyed themselves, so I tried with the kit decals... and had only slightly more success. But somehow, I did manage to salvage those decals well enough to make the lines presentable, if you don't look too closely... If I thought that was a near disaster... I then proceeded to give it an accidental test flight. Conclusion: glide ratio of a brick. Luckily, the breakage was limited - the booms sheared clear off, but were otherwise undamaged, so I was able to reassemble it... sort of. I'm not sure why, but I wasn't able to get it to stick together as it had all been before, so one of the booms is slightly off centre... I've put some putty in and hopefully I'll at least be able to make it into a smooth enough transition not to show too much if not viewed from above. So next step is to fix the seams at the booms and touch it up - I'll have to brush paint it, but hopefully it'll work out well enough. After that, finish the decalling and then, the dreaded Small Stuff... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barneydhc82 Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Just a wee critique if I may..what you have is a MkV..but the RCAF Reserve aircraft were MkIIIs;note the wing tips on the RCAF birds were rounded not squared off. Barney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted May 27, 2013 Author Share Posted May 27, 2013 ... And to think: I followed the instruction sheet, and cut the rounded wingtips off... *sigh* Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barneydhc82 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 When 421 Sqn moved to England it was equipped with MkVs on loan from the RAF but the MkIIIs were bought by Canada for the Reserves Currently undergoing restoration at Langley, BC Barney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Four Corners Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 Sounds like you had to wrestle with the kit a bit. I like the Vampire and I like Canadian subjects...so I definitely liked what you were able to accomplish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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